Real Madrid host Osasuna in La Liga this Sunday, and they will be looking to continue their exceptional start to the campaign with a win at home.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are currently at the top of the table, having picked up six wins from six La Liga outings. Real Madrid managed to win the league title last season, and they are the favourites to defend their domestic crown this year as well. A team of their calibre cannot afford to drop points against Osasuna at home, and Ancelotti will be expecting a big performance from his players.
Meanwhile, Osasuna are fifth in the league table right now, and they will fancy their chances of pulling off an upset here. Despite the fact that they are coming into this game on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Getafe, they have the quality to upset the odds.
Osasuna have picked up four wins from six matches in La Liga so far, and Real Madrid cannot afford to underestimate them. On top of that, the visitors have managed to hold Real Madrid to a draw in two of the last four meetings between the two sides. And Los Blancos will have to be careful as not to drop points here.
Team News & Tactics
Real Madrid
?✅ Our squad for #RealMadridOsasuna! pic.twitter.com/BuNwfqQ6fi
— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) October 1, 2022
Real Madrid are likely to continue with their 4-3-3 formation which has yielded impressive results so far this season. But Carlo Ancelotti will be without Luka Modric, who misses out due to a slight issue. Other than that, Real Madrid are expected to have a fully fit squad against Osasuna, with Karim Benzema returning to the squad.
Belgian international Thibaut Courtois is expected to continue in goal. In the full-back positions, Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy are fit and therefore expected to start. Meanwhile, summer signing Antonio Rudiger should partner David Alaba at the heart of the Real Madrid defence versus Osasuna.
The midfield trio pretty much picks itself, with Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, and Toni Kroos starting for the home side. Kroos and Valverde will be expected to add creativity and control in the middle of the park, while the young Frenchman will be looking to add defensive solidity with his tackling and reading of the game.
Brazilian attacking duo Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior have been in impressive form in recent weeks, and they are set to start against Osasuna. Benzema is expected to lead the line for Real Madrid against Osasuna after returning to the matchday squad.
The Uruguayan international will be expected to drag the Osasuna defenders out of position with his intelligent running, and he will drop deep and provide the numbers in midfield as well. Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio will be options on the bench for Ancelotti.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Kroos; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius
Osasuna
Osasuna will be without the services of Chimy Avila, who picked up a red card in his last outing. Kike Saverio ruptured his Achilles tendon and is set to be sidelined for another month at the very least.
The away side are set to line up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sergio Herrera starting in goal. In defence, Nacho Vidal and Juan Cruz are set to start as the full-backs. They will have to negate the threat of Vinicius Jr. and Federico Valverde on Sunday, and it could be a torrid outing for the duo.
? SQUAD LIST | #Osasuna announces squad list for tomorrow's match against @realmadriden.
▶️ https://t.co/WQP44ehDqt#RealMadridOsasuna #LetsGoRojillos pic.twitter.com/gAyay1oFMB
— C. A. OSASUNA (@osasuna_en) October 1, 2022
As far as the centre-backs are concerned, Unai Garcia should partner David Garcia at the heart of the Osasuna defence. The absence of Karim Benzema will come as a relief for them, but Rodrygo Goes is in impressive form, and the central defenders will need to be on their toes.
Lucas Torro and Darko Brasanac will play in a double pivot in midfield and will be tasked with breaking up the play and winning the ball from Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. They will also be expected to set up counterattacks.
Moi Gomez and Jon Moncayola will be the wingers for Osasuna, with Ruben Garcia operating in the hole. Osasuna will look to outnumber Real Madrid in the midfield with five players and hit them on the break. Finally, Ante Budimir is set to lead the line for Osasuna against Real Madrid.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Herrera; Vidal, Unai Garcia, David Garcia, Cruz; Brasanac, Torro; Moncayola, Ruben Garcia, Gomez; Budimir
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have won their last six matches (La Liga).
- Real Madrid have won nine of their last 11 matches against Osasuna in all competitions.
- Real Madrid have scored at least two goals in 11 of their last 13 matches against Osasuna in all competitions.
- Real Madrid have kept a clean sheet in five of their last six home matches against Osasuna in all competitions.
- Real Madrid have scored at least two goals in their last six matches (La Liga).
Player to Watch
Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Junior has been in impressive form of late, and he has scored in five of his last seven appearances for Real Madrid. The 22-year-old has two assists to his name in that period as well, starting the 2022/23 season brilliantly.
Vinicius will look to cause problems for the Osasuna defence with his pace and flair. The away side have conceded four goals in their last four La Liga outings, and they will be up against one of the best attacking teams in world football.
Prediction
Real Madrid 3-0 Osasuna
The home side are clear favourites heading into this contest, and they should be able to extend their fine run of form against Osasuna this weekend. Real Madrid have failed to win just two of the last 11 meetings against Sunday’s opposition, and an upset seems quite unlikely. Despite the absence of Karim Benzema, a home win seems inevitable.
